CDC gathers to discuss which patient groups should get Moderna and J&J COVID-19 vaccine boosters, and Pfizer reports positive results from booster trial

There was a flurry of positive news on vaccine boosters Thursday, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathered to discuss which patient groups should be eligible for boosters developed by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

The meeting follows a decision Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration to allow those boosters, marking a big step toward expanding the booster campaign, which started with extra doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer PFE, +0.14% and German partner BioNTech BNTX, +6.29% last month. The CDC will now consult an expert panel Thursday before finalizing official recommendations as to who should get boosters and when, as the Associated Press reported.

The FDA also gave the go-ahead for Americans to get a booster shot of a vaccine that is not the one they received initially. That will formally allow “mixing and matching” of shots — making it simpler to get another dose, especially for people who had a side effect from one brand but still want the proven protection of vaccination.